Pager capable of operating in multiple paging systems

Claim 1

A pager capable of operating in a plurality of paging systems, each of the paging systems transmitting information messages which include idle messages during periods of idle system activity, each of the paging systems having unique system identification information that is transmitted periodically via the idle messages, comprising: receiver means for receiving information messages from at least one of the plurality of paging systems; decoder means for decoding the information messages received by the receiver means in order to determine the unique system identification information contained in the idle messages; storage means coupled to the receiver means for storing a plurality of system configuration parameters, each set of system configuration parameters being associated with a unique paging system identification number; comparison means for comparing the unique system identification information decoded by the decoder means with the unique paging system identification number presently being utilized by the pager; controller means responsive to the comparison means for causing the pager to maintain receiving information messages from the presently selected paging system if the unique paging system identification number presently being utilized by the pager matches the unique system identification information decoded by the decoder means and for automatically changing the corresponding system configuration parameters of the pager if the unique pager system identification number presently being utilized does not match the unique system identification information decoded by the decoder means and the unique system identification information previously decoded matches one of the unique pager system identification numbers stored in the storage means; and counter means for generating a periodic pager counter interval during which the pager decodes information messages in order to determine if the pager is still in the proper paging system by comparing the unique system identification information with the unique paging system identification number presently being utilized by the pager.

Claim 5

A method for selecting a paging system on which a pager having multiple paging system capability is to operate, each of the plurality of paging systems transmitting information messages which include idle messages during periods of idle system activity, each of the paging systems also having unique system identification information that is transmitted periodically via the idle messages, the pager having a plurality of system configuration parameters, each set of system configuration parameters being associated with a unique paging system identification number which is also stored in the pager, each set of system configuration parameters corresponding to a unique paging system, comprising the steps of: presetting the pager to one of the plurality of system configuration parameters stored in the pager; attempting to receive information messages from one of the plurality of paging system; decoding any received information messages in order to determine the unique system identification information contained in the idle messages; comparing the unique system identification information decoded with the unique paging system identification number which is part of the system configuration parameters presently being utilized by the pager; maintaining the pager operating with the presently selected system configuration parameters if the system identification information that was decoded matches the unique paging system identification number associated with the preset system configuration parameters; and selecting a new set of system configuration parameters if the system identification information that was decoded does not match the unique paging system identification number.

Claim 6

A method for selecting a paging system on which a pager having multiple paging system capability is to operate, each of the plurality of paging systems transmitting information messages which include idle messages during periods of idle system activity, each of the paging systems also having unique system identification information that is transmitted periodically via the idle messages, the pager having a plurality of system configuration parameters, each set of system configuration parameters being associated with a unique paging system identification number which is also stored in the pager, each set of system configuration parameters corresponding to a unique paging system, comprising the steps of: presetting the pager to one of the plurality of system configuration parameters stored in the pager; attempting to receive information messages from one of the plurality of paging system; decoding any received information messages in order to determine the unique system identification information contained in the idle messages; comparing the unique system identification information decoded with the unique paging system identification number which is part of the system configuration parameters presently being utilized by the pager; maintaining the pager operating with the presently selected system configuration parameters if the system identification information that was decoded matches the unique paging system identification number associated with the preset system configuration parameters; and selecting a new set of system configuration parameters if the system identification information that was decoded does not match the unique paging system identification number.